Incinerator



Sept. 27, 1966 R. Gom-:R 3,274,960

INCINERATOR Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets5heet l I u M CONTROL I e4/VEZ.

CON/WOL lnvenior' Rael-IARD GoDER Sept. 27, 1966 R. @ODER 3,274,960

INCINERATOR Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor' RLCHARD GODERUnited States Patent O 3,274,960 IINCINERA'IR Richard Godet, i241 N.Honore St., Chicago, lill. Filed Ian. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,150 iClaims. (Cl. lili- 7) The present invention relates to an incineratorand more particularly it relates to an improved incinerator constructionfor a multiple story building.

Generally, incinerators for burning of waste materials are placed in `abuilding area that is out of .the way primarily because it involvestrash disposal and the burning must be in an area convenient for theoperator, utility supplies, and the like. One convenient area is thebasement or general utility area of the building. In a multiple storystructure it can readily be seen that disposal of Waste materials Willrequire movement of the waste materi-als from the area Where the wasteis generated (on the upper levels of the multiple story building) to theincinerator for burning. Some incinerator constructions involve the useof a charging chute extending to the upper levels of the multiple storybuilding. The waste materials are dropped into the chute and thendirectly into the primary combustion chamber of the incinerator forburning therein. Such installations, however, involve the use of theilue gas discharge stack in the dual function of the charging stack. Insuch installations a hazardous situation may arise if waste materialsbecome lodged in the flue gas discharge stack in that the gases will beblocked from discharge through the stack and may then be expelledthrough the various incinerator openings into the surrounding area. tlfthe blockage occurs at one of the upper levels of the building, thegases may be discharged into the levels below the blockage. Charging ofthe materials directly to the incinerator is not conducive to the mosteffective and economical operation. Installations of this type requirethe addition of auxiliary warning equipment on the -fl'ue to give anaudible indication, or the like, of a blockage.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an improvedincinerator assembly for a multiple story building wherein a Wastematerials charging chute extends from the incinerator area up throughthe building and has an access door at each floor. The waste materialempties from the chute into a charging hopper and is stored there priorto charging to the incinerator on a cycling basis. The incinerator ofthe assembly is of multi-chamber construction having a primarycombustionchamber for burning of the waste materials, a second-arycombustion charnber to complete combustion of the unburned gases fromthe primary chamber and a flue gas chamber for separation of ashparticles, and the like, from the products of combustion to preventdischarge of ,said particles up the stack. The incinerator assembly isdirected to the provision of a convenient loading assembly for amultiple story building and to a construction intended to avoiddischarge of objectionable ash particles and unburned gases into theatmosphere.

It, accordingly, is a general object of the present invention to providean improved incinerator assembly for a multiple story building.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of animproved incinerator construction for a multiple story building whereina charging chute extends from the incinerator -up to the variousbuilding levels and has an access door at each building level.

A further object of the present invention resides in the multiple storybuilding having a charging chute extending provision of an improvedincinerator assembly `for a from the incinerator to the upper levels ofthe building and wherein the 'waste materials deposited into the chute cICC are stored in a charging hopper for charging to the incinerator on apredetermined cycling basis.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an improved incinerator assembly for a multiple story building havinga multiple chamber incinerator construction for complete burning of thegases and for removal of ash particles from the products of combustionprior to discharge of said products out the stack.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of animproved incinerator assembly for a multiple story building having acharging chute extending to the upper levels of the building andemptying into a hopper assembly which assembly is adapted to cover amaterials charging opening in the incinerator during the hopper loadingportion -of the cycle and to -discharge the waste material from thehopper to the incinerator through 4said opening during the incineratorcharging portion of the cycle.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an improved incinerator assembly having a charging hopper withtemperature sensing means associated with said hopper to override thecycling mechanism in the event of combustion of the waste materialswithin the hopper to discharge the waste from the hopper into theincinerator out of the normal sequence.

The novel features which are believed to be char-acteristic of theinvention are set forth with particularity in the appende-d claims. Theinvention itself, however, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, will best be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a portion of the incinerator assembly ofthe present invention showing the top of the incinerator and thecharging hopper with associated apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a side View of the incinerator assembly of the presentinvention showing the charging chu-te, the hopper in relation to thechute and the incinerator of the assembly;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the access door of thecharging chute provided at each level of the multiple story building;and,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of theincinerator showing the multi-chamber construction, the charging hopperand materials charging opening of the incinerator.

Referring more particularly now to the drawings, the incineratorassembly is shown generally at 10 and includes the incinerator,indicated generally lat i12, the charging chute `14, charging hopper 16,and gas discharge stack 18.

The charging chute 14 of the assembly extends from the incineratorterminal thereof, indicated at 20, upwardly through the various levels,21, 22, and 23 of the building. An access opening 24a with a door 24 isprovided at each building level or floor, as seen in FIGURE 2. The door,illustrated in greater detail in FIGURE 3, is a swing-out type, anddefines a three-sided short chutelike member. The waste materials (notshown) are deposited upon the opened door 24 and slide therefrom intothe interior of the chute 14 and then to the incinerator terminal 20 ofchute 14. A chute gate, indicated generally at 26, is provided at theincinerator terminal of the chute 14 and is adapted in one position tobe in registration with the bottom opening defined by the incineratorterminal 20 of the chute 14 and in a second position to be out ofregistration with said opening 2t) to permit discharge of wastematerials from the chute into the hopper 16, as described hereinbelow.The chute gate 26 includes a stop member, or disk, 28 which extends tocover the opening of the incinerator terminal of the chute in the closedposition. The stop member 28 of gate 26 is affixed to the free end ofthe piston rod 38 of cylinder 32. When the cylinder 32 is operated tomove the rod 30 in one direction or the other axially of said cylinder,the rod 30 will, in turn, move the member 28 into or out of registrationwith the opening of the incinerator terminal of chute 14. With the rod30 extended, as seen in FIGURE 2, the member 28 is in registration withthe opening of chute 14 to close the opening and prevent discharge ofwaste materials from said chute. When the rod is withdrawn into thecylinder 32, the member 28 will be moved along with said rod to bring itout of registration with the bottom opening of chute 14 to permitdischarge of the waste terminals from said chute into the hopper 16.

The incinerator 12 `is of multi-chamber construction and includes aprimary combustion chamber 34, a secondary combustion chamber 36 and aparticle precipitator chamber 38. The incinerator is defined by externalrefractory walls 40, lfloor 42, and roof 44. One Wall of the primarycombustion chamber 34 is provided with an opening 46 extending throughsaid wall and into the waste materials burning portion of said chamber(defined below). A second opening 48 extends through said wall and intothe ash deposit or ash pit portion of the chamber 34.

The primary combustion chamber 34 is divided into said waste materialsburning and ash receiving portions,

vas noted above, by a grate assembly, indicated generally at 50. Thegrate assembly 50, in the illustrative embodiment herein set forth,includes a step grate 51 and a flat grate 52. The step grate Sil definesa plurality of short .plates positioned on a ldiagonal and extending instep-like `arrangement from a wall of the combustion chamber at a Ipointthereon spaced between the roof and floor of said chamber, diagonallytoward the flat grate 52 Iwhich is disposed 1in said chamber 34 inspaced relation to the floor 42 thereof.

The primary combustion chamber 34 includes a fuel linlet port 514 inywhich the fuel feed mixture and injection means is disposed andpositioned t-o feed a combustible mixture to the chamber. An air port 56is defined in a side wall of the chamber below the grate 50 so that the`auxiliary inspirated air needed for combustion in the chamber 34 passesthrough the waste materials deposited on the grate assembly.

A materials charging opening 58 is defined in the roof 44 of the primarycombusti-on chamber 34 to provide means for charging the waste materialsto the incinerator from the top thereof.

A first refractory wall 60 extends from the floor 42 of the incineratorto a point spaced from the roof thereof to define a space 62 between theupper terminal 61 of the wall 60 and the roof 44. The wall 60 defines aseparation between Ithe primary combustion chamber 34 and the secondarycombustion chamber 36.

The secondary combustion chamber 36 is included in the incineratorassembly t-o provide for complete combustion of the unburned gasesdischarged from the primary combustion chamber 34. It should be observedthat fuelair ratios, proper mixtures and combustion conditions aredifficult to control and maintain without elaborate and expensivecontrol components and the problem may be especially difficult if wetmaterials are being burned in the incinerator. Further, a variety ofmaterials may be charged to the incinerator over any given period oftime of varying chemical composition giving off various products duringcombustion, the characteristics being ditiicult to predict and tocontrol. The secondary combustion chamber 36 provides means forcompleting the combustion of the incompletely burned gases from theprimary combustion chamber to neutralize the products of combustion andprovide for safe discharge thereof to the atmosphere. A fuel inlet port64 is provided in the secondary combustion chamber for injection of acombustible mixture thereto to provide for combustion of the gasespassing through said chamber. An air inlet portion 66 is defined below abaffle 68 in the wall 60 of the incinerator. A clean-cut opening 70having a door 71 is provided at the `base of the secondary combustionchamber 36 to provide access for removal of any solids that aredeposited in said chamber during .passage of gases therethrough.

A second wall 72 extending continuously from the floor 42 of theincinerator to the roof A44 thereof separates the secondary combustionchamber 36 from the precipitator chamber 38. A plurality of relativelysmall diameter openings '74 defined in an area of checlterwork definedin the wall 72 are provided to define means for passage of the productsof combustion from the secondary combustion chamber 36 through the wall72 and into the precipitaor .chamber 38 of the incinerator.

The precipitator chamber 38 is included in the assembly to provide meansfor removal of particles carried over from the primary and secondarycombustion chambers during burning of the waste materials. As the gasespass from the primary 'combustion chamber 34rto the secondary combustionchamber 36 they pass through the relatively restricted space 62, definedbetween the roof of the incinerator and the top 61 of the wall 6i). Thisresults in an increase in velocity of the gases through space 62 and aslowing thereafter upon entry into the large area of the secondarycombustion chamber 36. Some of the particles in the gases will drop outof suspension and be deposited on the door of chamber 36 since they aretoo heavy to be supported by the now slower moving gases in said chamber36. These heavier particles will collect at the bottom of chamber 36 andmay be removed through the clean-out opening '70. The gases then movethrough the relatively small diameter openings in the checkerwork ofwall 72 and move toward the discharge stack 18 of the incinerator. Asignificant increase in velocity of the gases occurs during passagethereof through openings 74 and particles may be carried through insuspension in the fast moving gases. The moving body of gases will havesuicient dynamic ability to sustain particles in suspension therein.Immediately after passage through the opening 74, the gases pass intothe relatively large area defined by the chamber 38 and the gasesfurther must undergo a change in direction in passage toward the stack18. The greatly reduced velocity of the gases accompanied by the changein direction results in precipitation of a relatively large percentageof the suspended particles from the gases which particles drop to thebottom of the chamber 38 and may be removed therefrom through theclean-out opening 76. Dry cleaning of the gases is preferred to wetcleaning thereof in that the dust is more easily and economicallyyhandled in the dry state as it comes from the precipitator chamber 38.

The gases pass from the chamber 38 into the stack conduit 81 extendingtherefrom and then into a flue gas washer 78. A valve or damper membermay be provided in the stack `conduit 81 to regulate the passage ofgases therethrough. The flue gas washer 78 is adapted to remove asignificant portion of the solid particles remaining in suspension inthe gases after passage through the primary precipitator (precipitatorchamber 38). The washer 78 removes particles from suspension by passingthe gases through a curtain of water to wet the dust particles and makethem sufficiently heavy to drop out of suspension and to be deposited inthe bottom of the gas Washer 78. The gases then pass to the stack 18. Afan 82 is included in the stack circuit to provide artificial draftmeans for movement of the flue gases up the stack 18 for dischargetherefrom into the atmosphere.

The waste materials receiving hopper 16 is movable between a firstposition wherein the hopper is in registration with the dischargeopening at the incinerator terminal of the chute 14 and a secondposition wherein the hopper 16 is in registration with the opening 58 ofthe incinerator roof 44. In the first position of the hopper 16 (as seenin FIGURE 2) waste materials deposited into the chute 14 drop down thechute and into said hopper for storage therein prior to charging of thewaste materials to the incinerator 12. The hopper 16 is movablysupported upon rails 84 for movement between said first and secondpositions. A gate member S6 extends from the bottom portion of thehopper 16 and along between the rails 84 to dene closure means for theopening 58 when the hopper 16 is in said first position below theterminal 20 of chute 14. In this position, the opening 5S must becovered to prevent discharge of odors and products of combustion intothe general area about the incinerator assembly. The closure member 86provides means to cover the opening 58. The gate 86 is provided with aplurality of wheels 88, which wheels are received on the rail member 84and adapted to move therealong. The gate member 86 is aixed to one endof the piston rod 90 of cylinder 92. The cylinder 92, when operated, isadapted to move the gate member 86, and therethrough the hopper 16, froma rst position in registration with the opening 58 to a second positionspaced therefrom. The hopper 16 as indicated hereinabove, is inregistration with the chute 14 when the gate 86 is in registration withopening 58 of the incinerator. The hopper is in registration with theopening 58 when the gate 86 is spaced there from. The -hopper 16 is openat the top and bottom. The top opening of said hopper is in closeproximity to the Waste materials charging chute 14 so that any odorsthat may be given off by the materials that are stored in the hopper 16will be discharged to atmosphere through the chute 14, which chuteextends to a suitable vent externally of the building. The bottomopening of the hopper, when said hopper is in the first position and inregistration with the chute 14, is closed by the slab or platform 17upon which it rests. When the hopper is moved to the second position thetrailing wall of the hopper scrapes the material at the bottom of thehopper along the platform 17 until it reaches the opening 58 at whichtime it drops therethrough and into the primary combustion chamber ofthe incinerator.

The hopper 16 is provided with safety means 94 which may be a thermallyresponsive override element. This element 94 is adapted to override thenormal cycling control to move the hopper 16 from its rst position tothe second (discharge) position when the temperature within the hopper16 reaches a predetermined level indicative of the probable existence ofa re in the hopper. It is important for safety reasons to deposit thematerials within the incinerator in the event they spontaneously ignitein the hopper 16. The override control 94 does not alter the normalpredetermined cyclic operation of the apparatus. Rather, it completesthe circuit independently to operate the cylinder 92 and to move thehopper assembly 16 over the opening 58 to dump the waste materialstherefrom.

The normal cycling of the hopper discharge and incinerator may be set bythe operator to function at predetermined time inervals by making time`response settings on a control panel 96. As seen in FIGURE 2 of thedrawings, `the panel 96 is connected through lead 98 to the cylinder 32for control thereof and thereby for control of the position of gate 28.The panel 96, likewise, is connected through lead 100 4to `the cylinder92 for control of that cylinder and therethrough of the hopper position.The panel 96 also is connected through lead 102 to the burner conntrolmechanism 103 on the incinerator which mechanism 103 controls the on andoff condition of the primary and secondary burners including the fueland air feed lines associated therewith, all as noted hereinabove. Theitemperautre override mechanism 94 associated with the hopper 16 isconnected through lead 194 to the panel 96. If operating conditions arenormal during cycling of the incinerator, the override mechanism will bepassive during each portion of the cycle. If, however, the temperaturein the hopper 16 reaches a predetermined thermal level (present on themechanism 94), then the override mechanism will assume control of thehopper position means and will dump the contents of `the hopper into theincinerator.

The automatic cycling control may be programmed on a time basis tooperate the incinerator assembly. Upon cycling, the waste chute first isclosed. The waste hopper then is moved to registration with the wastereceiving opening of the incinerator to discharge the waste materialsaccumulated in the hopper and to deposit them on the incinerator grate.The incinerator burners then are ignited to provide means to consume thewaste materials. Burner 64 in the secondary combustion chamber 36 isstarted up first to rassure existence of conditions for completecombustion of any gases that exist or are created in the incinerator.After the burner 94 is ignited and operating the burner 54 in theprimary combustion chamber is ignited :and combustion of the wastematerials will begin as soon as said materials are heated to theirrespective temperatures of combustion.

Whilea specific embodiment of the present invention is shown anddescribed, it will, of course, be understood that other modificationsand alternative constructions may be used without departing from `thetrue spirit and scope `of the invention. It is intended by the appendedby the appended claims `to cover all such modifications and alternativeconstructions as fall within their `true spirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. An improved waste materials incinerator assembly for a multiple storybuilding comprising, in combination: an incinerator having a primarycombustion chamber, a secondary chamber and a precipitator chamber, acharging chute extending continuously from the incinerator through eachstory of the multiple story building land having an opening at eachstory of the building for introduction of waste materials therein, saidchute having a discharge opening at the incinerator terminal thereofwhereby said materials pass down said chute toward the incineratorterminal thereof; a movable charging hopper in `a first position beingin registration with the incinerator terminal of the charging chute andin a second position being in registration with the materials chargingopening in `the incinerator, said hopper adapted in said rst position toreceive the waste materials passing through the charging chute; and,operating means to move said hopper into its first and. secondpositions, respectively.

2. An improved waste materials incinerator assembly for a multiple storybuilding comprising, in combination: an incinerator having a primarycombustion chamber, a secondary combustion chamber and a precipitatorchamber, a changing chute extending continuously from the incineratorthrough each story of the multiple story building said chute having anopening at each story of the building for introduction of wastematerials therein, said chute having a discharge opening at theincinerator terminal thereof whereby said materials pass down said chutetoward the incinerator terminal thereof, said incinerator terminal ofthe chute being in .spaced offset relation to the materials chargingopening of the incinerator; a chute gate adapted :to move into and outof registration with the chute opening at the incinerator terminalthereof to control discharge of waste materials from the chute; acharging hopper movable from a rst position in registration with theopening at the incinerator terminal of the charging chute to a secondposition in registration with the materials charging opening in theincinerator, said charging hopper being open. at both ends and adapted.in said first position to receive the waste materials introduced to thecharging chu-te, said hopper including gate means adapted in a firstposition to block the materials charging opening of the incinerator andin a second lposition to be spaced from said opening; and, operatingmeans to move said hopper and gate assembly between their iirst andsecond positions, respectively.

3. An improved waste materials incinerator `assembly for a multiplestory building comprising, in combination: an incinerator having aprimary combustion chamber, a secondary combustion chamber and aprecipita-tor chamber, a charging chute extending from the incineratorthrough the levels of the multiple story building and having an openingat each level for introduction of waste materials therein, said chutehaving a discharge opening at the incinerator terminal thereof, saidmaterials adapted to pass down the chute to the incinerator terminal,said incinerator terminal being in spaced and offset relation to theincinerator materials charging opening of the incinerator roof; a chutegate adapted to move into and out of registration with the opening atthe incinerator terminal of the chute to control discharge of wastematerials therefrom; a movable charging hopper adapted in a rst positionto be in registration with the opening at the :incinerator terminal ofthe charging chute and in a second position to be in registration withthe materials charging opening in the incinerator roof, said charginghopper being open at both ends and adapted in said first position toreceive the waste materials introduced to `the charging chute, saidhopper including gate means adapted in a irst position to block thematerirals charging opening of the incinera-tor and in a second positionto be spaced from said opening; and, time interval responsive operatingmeans adapted in sequence and at predetermined time intervals to closethe chute gate, move the charging hopper from its rst position to itssecond position, energize the burner for the secondary combustionchamber and then to energize the burner for the primary combustionchamber.

4. An improved waste materials incinerator assembly for a multiple storybuilding comprising, in combination: an incinerator having a primarycombustion chamber, la secondary combustion chamber and a precipitatorchamber, a charging lchute extending from the incinerator through eachstory of the multiple story building and having an opening at each storyof said building for introduction of waste materials therein, said chutehaving a discharge opening at the incinerator tenminal thereof wherebysaid materials pass down said chute toward the incinerator terminal; amovable charging hopper in a first position being in registration withthe incinerator terminal of the charging chute and in a second positionbeing in registration with the materials charging opening in theincinenator, said hopper adapted in said rst position to receive `thewaste materials passing through the charging chute; override controlmeans responsive to the temperature within the charging hopper and:adapted to cause the hopper to move from said first position to saidsecond position upon realization of a predetermined temperature level inthe hopper indicative of combustion of waste materials therein; andoperating means `to control the action of the assembly in apredetermined time interval relation to close the chute gate to preventfurther discharge of waste materials therefrom and to move the changinghopper from said rst to said second position for transfer of wastematerials from the Icharging hopper through the charging opening of theincinerator and into the primary combustion chamber of the -ncinerator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,133,978 3/1915Leask 110-118 1,877,214 9/1932 Woodman 110-7 2,678,008 5/1954 Blum etall. 110-18 2,838,016 6/1958 Sharpe 110-18 2,937,603 5/1960 Schneider110-18 KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Examiner.

H. B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED WASTE MATERIALS INCINERATOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MULTIPLE STORYBUILDING COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AN INCINERATOR HAVING A PRIMARYCOMBUSTION CHAMBER, A SECONDARY CHAMBER AND A PRECIPITATOR CHAMBER, ACHARGING CHUTE EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE INCINERATOR THROUGH EACHSTORYL OF THE MULTIPLE STORY BUILDING AND HAVING AN OPENING AT EACHSTORY OF THE BUILD ING FOR INTRODUCTION OF WASTE MATERIALS THEREIN, SAIDCHUTE HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING AT THE INCINERATOR TERMINALS THEREOFWHEREBY SAID MATERIALS PASS DOWN SAID CHUTE TOWARD THE INCINERATORTERMINALS THEREOF; A MOVABLE CHARGING HOPPER IN A FIRST POSITION BEINGIN REGISTRATION WITH THE INCINERATOR TERMINALS OF THE CHARGING CHUTE ANDIN A SECOND POSITION BEING IN REGISTRATION WITH THE MATERALS CHARGINGOPENING IN THE INCINERATOR, SAID HOPPER ADAPTED IN SAID FIRST POSITIONTO RECEIVE THE WASTE MATE-